Publications by authors named "Jeffrey C Hageman"
The 2014-2016 Ebola virus disease (Ebola) epidemic in West Africa underscores the need for health care infection prevention and control (IPC) practices to be implemented properly and consistently to interrupt transmission of pathogens in health care settings to patients and health care workers. Training and assessing IPC practices in general health care facilities not designated as Ebola treatment units or centers became a priority for CDC as the number of Ebola virus transmissions among health care workers in West Africa began to affect the West African health care system and increasingly more persons became infected. CDC and partners developed policies, procedures, and training materials tailored to the affected countries.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOccurrence of a USA300 vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus.
Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis
December 2008
A vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) isolated from the blood of a 46-year-old patient with endocarditis was determined to be pulsed-field type USA300, daptomycin nonsusceptible, and positive for the Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes. Development of the VISA phenotype does not appear limited to traditional health care strains of S. aureus.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The report analyzes the first 7 cases of vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) infections in the U.S. from 2002 to 2006, focusing on clinical and epidemiological data.
- Findings show that all cases were linked to prior infections and underlying health issues, with no evidence of person-to-person transmission beyond the initial patients.
- The study emphasizes the importance of quick identification by labs and following infection control guidelines to prevent the spread of VRSA.
Article Synopsis
- * CA-MRSA infections increased significantly, with Pacific Islanders disproportionately affected, making up 51% of cases despite only being 24% of Hawaii's population.
- * The findings suggest that prevention efforts should target Pacific Islanders, as the strains of CA-MRSA in Hawaii are linked to those prevalent in other parts of the United States.
Article Synopsis
- A 2005 survey was conducted among infectious diseases consultants about persistent bacteremia caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
- Many consultants reported a perceived increase in the frequency of MRSA-related illnesses.
- When faced with rising vancomycin resistance levels, most consultants preferred to switch to newer antimicrobial treatments.
During the 2003-04 influenza season, 17 cases of Staphylococcus aureus community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) were reported from 9 states; 15 (88%) were associated with methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The median age of patients was 21 years; 5 (29%) had underlying diseases, and 4 (24%) had risk factors for MRSA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The mail-related dispersal of Bacillus anthracis spores in the Washington, D.C., area during October 2001 resulted in 5 confirmed cases of inhalational anthrax.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis report summarizes findings of a national survey conducted among infectious diseases consultants to assess complications associated with influenza during the 2003-2004 influenza season. The survey identified severe complications, including secondary infection with Staphylococcus aureus and deaths among children and adults, as well as perceived shortages in rapid diagnostic tests and influenza vaccine.
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- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are increasingly affecting individuals without typical risk factors, leading to concerns about their impact on public health.
- A study conducted in Baltimore, Atlanta, and Minnesota found 1,647 cases of community-associated MRSA infections between 2001 and 2002, predominantly in young children and racial disparities observed in Atlanta.
- The majority of these infections were skin and soft tissue-related, and although many strains were resistant to treatment, hospitalization for MRSA was common, indicating a significant health issue.
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- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is spreading beyond hospitals, prompting a study of an outbreak among St. Louis Rams football players.
- Researchers conducted a study of players and staff, finding that MRSA infections were linked to specific positions on the team and a higher body mass index, with infections occurring primarily at turf-abrasion sites.
- The MRSA strain identified was similar to those from other community outbreaks, indicating a common source of the infections and highlighting the clone's presence in various regions across the U.S.
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- The study aimed to compare the effectiveness of routine glove use by healthcare workers to contact-isolation precautions for residents with antibiotic-resistant infections in a skilled-care unit.
- Over an 18-month period, researchers tracked the acquisition of four types of antimicrobial-resistant organisms among residents under both infection-control strategies.
- Results showed no significant difference in infection rates between the two strategies, but contact-isolation precautions were 40% more expensive, suggesting that routine glove use might be more beneficial for cost and resident social interaction in long-term care settings.
Article Synopsis
- The National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) System conducted a study to evaluate how well hospital laboratories in the U.S. test for antibiotic-resistant bacteria, focusing on validating test results and identifying methods with potential errors.
- They tested five specific resistant organisms and compared results from 193 laboratories against reference results from the CDC.
- The findings indicate that while most labs accurately identified various resistance patterns, disk diffusion testing was notably unreliable for detecting vancomycin resistance in specific bacteria, highlighting a need for improved testing methods.